Chapter 1103 The world is so big (six thousand words, three in one)
Switzerland, Geneva.
The phone ringing at midnight is the most annoying thing.
Even the best-tempered person will become a little grumpy when woken up by this phone call.
“Who is it?”
While holding the phone, Chaplin said angrily.
"Turn on the TV quickly, there is big news."
News, what news?
The voice sounds like that guy from Picasso. That guy never sleeps. Maybe for him, he is still enjoying the nightlife.
After hearing the voice of a good friend, Chaplin decided to forgive him for disturbing him.
After all, you can never be angry with someone who doesn't have night. For those people, maybe night is day and day is night.
"What kind of big news makes you call me at this time?"
"Hurry up, my friend, stop talking nonsense and turn on the TV."< br>
On the other end of the phone, Picasso said with some annoyance.
“If it wasn’t big news, do you think I would call you at this time?”
Indeed,
If it weren’t big news, that Picasso guy would never call from other countries.
But what kind of big news makes him so excited?
Did a world war break out?
“Really, how is this possible?”
Then he came to the living room with the phone in hand. Then he turned on the TV.
“This?”
Chaplin looked at the picture on the TV with some confusion, and then he changed the channel, but the picture on the TV made his brows furrowed. group.
"Picasso, what did you say? What big news? No, nothing!"
Now he was really angry, and even his tone became a little harsh. . After all, he was the one being interrupted.
"None? How is this possible? Have you turned on the TV?"
Picasso asked doubtfully.
"Are you sure you turned on the TV?"
"Yes,"
Chaplin couldn't even complain. Could it be that in his eyes , I can’t even turn on the TV?
"I turned it on, not only turned it on, but also changed the channel, didn't you? There was nothing. All the TV stations were gone!"
Chaplin's tone became a little harsh. On the other end of the phone, Picasso said in great confusion.
"Is there no news? How is this possible?"
"What news?"
Hold the phone in his hand, the phone cord just dragging on the ground, Chaplin He looked at the motionless picture on the TV with some confusion and said.
"Maybe there is something wrong with my TV. There is only one ball on the screen, no, it's half a ball!"
"What? What kind of ball is that? That's the earth. Enter Wang Baoxian of Nanyang It’s in space, that’s the Earth! It’s a picture from space, my friend, this is big news, do you know?”
Listening to the roar from the other end of the phone, Chaplin’s whole body They were all dumbfounded.
He looked at the picture on the TV. The person stood there, stunned.
It took a while before he said:
"Is this true?"
At this time, he even suspected that he was dreaming, so he gave himself a straight mouth!
“Pa, ah!”
It turns out I wasn’t dreaming!
At this time, he heard the Picasso guy saying on the other end of the phone.
"Haha, I know you guy must have slapped me in the face."
Even through the phone, you can hear the Picasso guy's gloating laughter.
“This slap is really loud!”
Faced with his friend’s laughter, Chaplin did not refute, but said after being silent for a while.
“Didn’t you whip yourself? Is this true?”
The other end of the phone was silent. Obviously, Picasso must have slapped himself in the mouth, otherwise he wouldn't be smiling so happily.
Actually, the reason why I smiled so happily was not just because I heard the slap from my friend, but because I saw the earth.
Perhaps they never thought that such a day would come.
Be able to see the earth from the perspective of space.
Just like that, Chaplin stood in the living room with a phone in his hand, looking at the picture on the TV.
After a long time, he said:
“I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it’s Nanyang.”
Despite what he said, the shock in his eyes was , and there is a kind of joy from the heart.
On this day, mortals witness miracles and heroes fly into space.
……
Some are happy, some are sad.
Washington, USA.
White House, Oval Office.
Eisenhower's eyes left the TV, but he couldn't help but stare at the picture on the TV several times - that was space!
Although it didn't seem like a big deal, he knew that all Americans were watching this scene now.
On one side is the vast space, on the other side is the blue earth.
I have to say that Nanyang’s technology is indeed amazing. The picture may seem a little blurry, but you can see everything clearly.
This is space!
If possible, Eisenhower wanted to deny everything and make people believe that it was false, but what about the facts?
This is true.
Not only Nanyang launched, but even the Soviet Union... also launched. Within tens of minutes after launch from Nanyang!
The Soviets sent their own astronauts into space!
"... Now, all viewers must be curious whether "Tianwen 5" and the Russian "Vostok 1" will meet in space. Now let's connect with NASA's space experts , he will explain this possibility to us in detail..."
"God."
Eisenhower let out a breath, and then no longer wanted to see it all.
He knew very well that all the newspapers tomorrow would definitely ask - Where are the American spaceships?
There is no need to wait for tomorrow. Just a few minutes later, the news host asked over the phone - where are the American spaceships?
In the Oval Office, Eisenhower was on the phone with the Air Force Commander. Every word he spoke was focused on one thing-when the American spacecraft would be launched.
“Yes, General, you have seen it now, the Nanyang Aeronautics and Space Administration broadcast this incident live in front of the whole world, they sent their people into space, and let the whole world see Wang Baoxian ——A twenty-three-year-old astronaut! The first in the world, and at the same time, the Soviets also launched their astronaut-Gagarin, who was also twenty-three years old, and the Soviets also had one My own astronaut."
Then, Eisenhower said with emphasis:
"How many people are there in the world who were the first to enter space? There is obviously only one. Whether they are Wang Baoxian or Gagarin, it doesn't matter. The important thing is that among them, there is obviously no American!"< br>
Taking a deep breath, Eisenhower suppressed his inner dissatisfaction and said:
"Did you see the TV? They were asking - where are the Americans? When Wang Baoxian and Gagarin were in space What will they say when they meet in the middle?”
While repeating the questions on the TV, the host’s ridiculing voice came from the TV.
"Hey, what are the Americans doing? They are sleeping! Mr. President, we are sleeping!
Now the whole world has seen that we are sleeping, and the United States is sleeping!
Just like the last artificial satellite, we were left far behind again!
By the Russians, by the Nanyang people! "
As president, Eisenhower felt really painful. The last time the Russians launched their artificial satellite, it was like a slap in the face to the United States.
That was the United States' "Sputnik" "Tnick" moment!
Although the United States later launched many satellites, it had lost its No. 1 position in the world, so it had to launch crisis research.
What about this time?
The United States has been surpassed again!
Originally, he thought that the Russians would be more disappointed than him. In any case, he never thought that the Russians and Nanyang would happen almost at the same time.
God, they are tied for the championship, but what about the United States?
America is a clown in front of them.
No!
The clown is me!
God can testify that Eisenhower only had one feeling right now - his face was slapped!
This feeling of being slapped in the face is very bad!
It is conceivable that in the next half century, or even 100 or 200 years, everyone will mention this moment and his clown-like performance.
When people mention this day, they will describe with admiration how Nanyang and the Soviet Union conducted this competition. They succeeded!
Their success reflects the failure of the United States, and... his stupidity!
Thinking of all this, even Eisenhower's tone became a little angry.
"General, now, I need an answer, when will we be able to send Americans into space?"
Apparently the Air Force commander couldn't give him an accurate answer, so Eisenhower called James Webb, his appointee to head NASA.
"Director James," he said directly,
"You have seen the live broadcast of the Nanyang people, and the Soviets also launched successfully, so I want to know, when will we Can we send our people into space?"
James Webber, who was watching TV, was silent for a while and then said.
“Next year!”
After giving this answer, James Webb further explained.
“Although I would like to launch immediately, I have to tell you that we are not ready yet. If we are not ready and send people into space, the results may be catastrophic. "He made a good point. Failure to prepare for launch may result in an accident.
Going into space now is a complete adventure, and every launch is accompanied by the possibility of failure.
For this reason, when they advertised the recruitment of astronauts for the Mercury Project, they told everyone directly about the risks:
"Voluntarily enter a highly flammable spacecraft full of rocket fuel, and voluntarily fly to space, but there is no guarantee of return. If you are interested, please submit your resume to NASA and transfer to the Mercury Project."
The advertisement said: The specific description of the job requirements is intimidating. But even so, it still attracted more than 500 American pilots to sign up. In the end, more than 100 pilots passed the preliminary selection, and they selected seven pilots among them.
"You should have seen that now the whole world is asking us, have we, the Americans, really been reduced to a second-class country? This is our second "Sputnik moment" ! The second time! Do you understand?”
Eisenhower almost yelled this sentence, after all, no president has the opportunity to experience the "Sputnik moment", and it happened twice in a row.
Then he asked rudely.
"We need to launch as quickly as possible."
As the president, all he needs is to give them a concrete answer when he responds to the public's questions tomorrow.
“No, Mr. President,”
James Webb said,
“Even if you are the President of the United States, you cannot directly issue such an order. We must Safety first!
Unless we want to show in front of the whole world how the spacecraft and our astronauts were reduced to ashes in a violent explosion. "
Faced with James Webb's rebuttal, Eisenhower fell silent and said.
"Can't it be done in advance? ”
Even as the president, he cannot be willful. After all, if the astronauts are blown to ashes in front of the whole world, then he will not only respond to the public’s doubts.
If the public knew that NASA carried out the launch ahead of schedule under his orders, then an unprecedented public relations disaster would occur
"Safety is the most important thing, Mr. President, we can't turn it into a disaster. The last time we launched a satellite, the whole world saw its explosion.
This time we can't let the whole world see the same scene. , after all, our astronauts are sitting on the rocket.
Now, what we need is to be stable, not to chase them and take risks that we should not bear.”
James. Weber thought for a while and said again.
“And we still have a chance to surpass them.”
"What chance?"
Eisenhower said.
“Just now, Von Braun called me. He also read the news. He said that we can change to a new track.”
James Webber took a deep breath. He took a breath and hesitated for a while when he mentioned the new track. But he knows exactly what the president needs now.
Eisenhower asked with some confusion.
"New track? What is it?"
"Moon! Mr. President!"
James Webb said into the phone.
“What?”
Eisenhower was confused.
"Let's go to the moon. Since they have taken the first place in space, but there is still the moon, we, the United States, can be the first country to send humans to the moon."
"Send Americans to the moon." The moon?"
Eisenhower said subconsciously.
“Is this possible?”
Why does this sound like a fantasy?
"Mr. President, Dr. von Braun believes that this is achievable. I believe in him that if we concentrate all our efforts and devote all our efforts, we can do this!"
face Eisenhower fell silent at such a sudden suggestion. Originally, he just wanted to catch up with the Russians and Nanyang people, but now?
James Webber gave him a new track.
To the moon!
Put the American flag on the moon!
After thinking for a while, Eisenhower said he would think about it.
“This suggestion sounds a bit crazy, I will seriously consider it, but can humans really go to the moon?”
Facing the president’s inquiry, James Webb directly Said clearly.
"We have to believe in Dr. Braun, Mr. President, he will definitely be able to send Americans into space!"
Last night, Eisenhower didn't rest all night.
Just as he expected, the front pages of all American newspapers the next day were about the news about Nanyang putting humans into space, and of course the news about Soviet astronauts entering space.
All public opinion is asking - where are the American astronauts?
Faced with such doubts, after Eisenhower thought about it for a day, he attended the congressional meeting the next day.
In questioning the two houses of Congress, Eisenhower not only briefed them on the progress of the "Mercury Project", but also gave a speech - We choose to go to the moon.
“…we decided to go to the moon and realize more dreams in this decade not because they were easy, but precisely because they were difficult.
Because this goal will promote us to achieve the best organization and test our top technology and strength, because this challenge we are willing to accept, because this challenge we are not willing to postpone, because this challenge we are determined to win, and the same is true for other challenges..."< br>
Eisenhower's speech spread throughout the United States and the world through live radio and television. Faced with the new track opened by Eisenhower, the Soviets responded by joining this competition.
At this time, a space race was still going on in space.
——
When the news came, Li Yian was silent for a while. Then he smiled, and the cracked arc at the corner of his mouth was the angle at which the unconscious conspiracy succeeded, and said:
"This is just right!"
It is indeed just right, Nanyang got the first place!
But it did not overly stimulate the United States - if it were just Nanyang, Nanyang would be the target of public criticism and become a thorn in the eyes of the United States and the Soviet Union.
But now, the addition of the Soviet Union at the same time has allowed the United States to focus all its attention on the Soviet Union. For the United States, the Soviet Union is the most important opponent. As for Nanyang... this is an ally.
What about the Soviet Union?
The Soviet Union was also stimulated.
Because Nanyang was the first to send a man into space, and people all over the world have seen it.
Just a few dozen minutes!
It was enough to severely damage the fragile self-esteem of the Soviet Union, and the irritation to them was even more serious than winning first place in Nanyang - they were only behind by dozens of minutes, and it was because of the weather!
What will they do next?
Of course, we accept the challenge from the United States and go all out to march to the moon!
Moon landing!
Where is the moon landing?
It’s obvious that everyone is working together to push Earth’s technology to a new peak!
Not the peak!
And height!
A brand new level that is enough to change all mankind!
How far will the United States and the Soviet Union, driven by Nanyang, push human science and technology forward?
Li Yian couldn’t help but be full of expectations for that day!
……
Different from the historical Gagarin who flew tightly around the earth for more than an hour - this time Gagarin stayed in space for a full 23 hours, because of the request of Moscow's top officials - he had to stay longer than the Nanyang people. More time!
It wasn’t until almost a day and night after it was confirmed that Wang Baoxian had returned to Earth that Gagarin ended his journey in space.
But we ran into trouble again when we returned to Earth. The standard return procedure is: the brake rocket is ignited and the cockpit is separated from the equipment compartment. When the cockpit drops to 7,000 meters above the ground, Gagarin will be ejected from the cabin together with his seat and the parachute will be deployed. At an altitude of 4,000 meters, Gagarin separated from his seat and parachuted back to the ground.
But when Gagarin returned, the cockpit and the equipment cabin could not be separated in time, and the cockpit rotated crazily. The separation process was originally planned to take only 10 seconds, but it actually took 10 minutes. Fortunately, the cockpit was finally separated from the equipment compartment.
Finally, after orbiting the Earth thirteen times in space, Gagarin landed safely near Saratov, Soviet Union.
Six hours before Gagarin's successful landing, Wang Baoxian had already ended his space journey as planned and landed safely in Suluhai with the return capsule.
Then with the whole world watching, he emerged from the return capsule, was helped to the ship, and then climbed into the helicopter.
At this moment, the whole world is cheering for him...
——
It really can’t be said that it is the whole world.
In fact, at the moment when he was a rocket in Nanyang, there was a person who had the most bitter heart in the world.
Aiden!
As the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, he was awakened from his sleep.
After he sleepily heard the news that Nanyang was about to send astronauts into space, his heart was complicated.
Although he had known the news before, when he saw space on the TV and saw the Nanyang astronaut, he had a complicated mood.
My heart is heavy!
At this time, Eden seemed to understand the complicated feelings his predecessor had when he heard that the Germans had been frustrated in Moscow.
I hope the Soviets can hold Moscow, and I hope the Germans can capture Moscow.
At that moment, Aiden hoped that the rocket would explode, and later he hoped that Wang Baoxian would not come back or that something unexpected would happen.
In short, he faced all this with this mood.
However, deep down, he was equally excited... because on this day, humans really entered space.
Perhaps, his gambling agreement with Nanyang will turn him into a joke, but God can testify that when facing this glorious achievement, he was also excited in his heart.
In fact, this is the simplest human emotion. Aiden didn't know that in another world, the British were once crazy for Gagarin, and thousands of British women were even excited and crazy because of seeing him.
But it is the same now. Those British women even look at Wang Baoxian on the TV with obsession.
A few hours later, at Eden's suggestion, Queen Elizabeth II and the heads of the Commonwealth sent an invitation to Nanyang - inviting the Commonwealth's first astronaut Wang Baoxian to visit London. Share his journey into space with the entire Commonwealth.
I have to say that I, Da Ying, won again!
(End of this chapter)